DETROIT _ The Montreal Canadiens, points-wise, the best team in hockey this season.
Their opponents, the Detroit Red Wings, missing a cylinder or two but looking for their third victory in a row nevertheless.
The Original Six rivals duked it out all way Saturday night at a packed Joe Louis Arena. The result: a hard-fought, hard-hitting 2-1 victory for Montreal at 3:37 in overtime, the goal scored by Alex Galchenyuk.
A third-period goal at 3:30 by Justin Abdelkader over the left shoulder of ace Montreal goalie Carey Price broke a scoreless game.
But the Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher tied it at 1-1 at 11:05.
Without veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall, rested by Wings coach Jeff Blashill, young Xavier Ouellet filled in on late notice and was serviceable.
Detroit, also without the services of injured red-shot goalie Jimmy Howard (groin), relied on Petr Mrazek, who has struggled of late.
Mrazek, making his first start since Nov. 15, when the Detroit lost to Tampa Bay, 4-3, proved remarkably focused and sharp in the crease however and stopped 22 shots overall.
Mrazek made several solid stops early in the first period before a spectacular save sprawled on his stomach on a close-range blast by Montreal's left winger Artturi Lehkonen.
Price (32 saves) was stout, too, saving five shots in the opening stanza, while Mrazek defended 10.
The first period ended with neither team scoring but a scuffle on the boards resulting in the Wings' Tomas Tatar and Montreal's Tomas Plekanec receiving 2 minutes each for roughing.
At the end of the second, it was still scoreless with Wings on their second power play, triggered by a roughing penalty to Montreal's Phillip Danault at 19:09 after Abelkader leveled Daniel Carr, payback for a hard hit into the boards by Alexei Emelin on young Wings left winger Tyler Bertuzzi.
Bertuzzi left the ice and didn't return for the third period.
